Working with health care providers

When we seek out care or information about health care needs, interests, problems or conditions, we enter into an often-complex relationship with the health care providers we seek out. What do we have to do to get the best outcomes? What do we do if we disagree? What do we do if we want some types of care from one provider, but other types of care from another?

In today’s health care world, many of us are also paying a lot more out of pocket for your health care services, so we have added incentive to be interested in getting the highest value we can: the best outcomes for the lowest reasonable costs. How do we do this?

At HealthTeam360 we want you to feel prepared when you seek out health providers’ care and services for non-emergency, lifestyle-related problems, concerns, injuries and challenges. We use our Four Step Process to give you the information you need. There are some basic rules, however, that apply to every instance of health care interactions.

Use our online tools to determine which providers you want to seek out for evaluation, diagnosis, care, treatment or management.

Seek out the providers you choose, and let their schedulers know you are bringing in an integrative care management plan to review, discuss and potentially collaborate on.

Do I feel like I was listened to and my perspective treated with respect?

Do I agree with the conclusions the provider came to about my needs? If I don’t, what is the next provider on my list to consult?

Do I understand the financial arrangements I may be entering into to receive the recommended care?

There are times when things don’t go well, or treatments don’t work, or you don’t feel like you thought you would. In those kinds of cases, it’s most important you communicate with the providers you saw for evaluation and care. They need to know what did not work, so they can work with you to correct or refine any treatment or therapeutic plans.

To help give providers constructive feedback, we have a Provider Experience Review survey. This gives us the ability to give providers a kind of self-assessment about how well they are offering their patients–their customers–a welcoming, inclusive and effective process for improving their health.